New Distilleries Added to Kentucky Bourbon Trail™ in 2025
- Pegasus
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 20
In 2025, over a dozen new spots have been added along the renowned Kentucky Bourbon Traill™. With these additions, the trail now includes 60 destinations spread across 27 of Kentucky's 120 counties.
“As bourbon tourism continues to thrive, our members are creating more opportunities for the world to experience the heart and soul of America’s spirit in a variety of ways that meet every visitor's interests,” Colleen Thomas, Kentucky Distillers’ Association vice president of operations, said in a news release.
Let's get to know some of these new distilleries and make plans to visit them soon....
Adairville local Shawn McCormick launched B.H. James Distillers in 2022. However, the distillery's name carries historical significance, paying tribute to McCormick's great-grandfather, a professional baseball player from 1908 to 1919. The company uses local corn, rye, and barley to produce its Kentucky Grit® whiskeys, along with various other spirits. The distillery's Slushies have quickly gained legendary status among Bourbon enthusiasts.
Becker & Bird Distillery has been in operation since 1798. Situated in Augusta, it is renowned for its internationally celebrated Bourbon, which pays tribute to John Baker, a German immigrant who arrived in 1748 and later established the distillery at its present site. In addition to its famous Bullfrog cocktail, the distillery provides tours that highlight the importance of the farm and forest in Bourbon production.
Bespoken Spirits, based in Lexington, KY, has introduced an innovative method for spirit finishing that reduces environmental impact by using fewer resources such as wood, energy, and water. This unique technique allows Bespoken to craft customized flavor profiles, catering to diverse taste preferences. Visitors have the opportunity to tour the lab-inspired production areas, witnessing the fusion of science and craftsmanship, and enjoy tasting experiences that reflect Bespoken’s commitment to reinventing the spirit of tradition.
If you're yearning for an outstanding Toasted Maple Old Fashioned, Bluegrass Distillers is the place for you! Established in 2012, the distillery combines classic Bourbon-making techniques with creative mash bills, unique distillation processes, and sophisticated barrel finishing. Their recent move to Elkwood Farm, a historic 62-acre estate in Midway, KY, represents a significant milestone, introducing a comprehensive "seed-to-glass" operation featuring a 36-inch column still, expanded bottling capabilities, and several barrel warehouses.
Launched in 2023 on Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville, Buzzard’s Roost boasts its own micro-still, tasting rooms, and a Speakeasy-style lounge available for experiences and private events. The distillery has 17 exclusive barrels, allowing flavors to be extracted from the wood to craft award-winning Bourbon. The bar welcomes the public, offering signature cocktails and flights.
Curious about the name? Over 160 years ago, during a time when such a name was possible, founder James A. Miller named his whiskey Chicken Cock, beginning a legacy that still thrives today in Bardstown, KY. Duke Ellington mentioned Chicken Cock Whiskey in his memoir. Signature cocktail: Circa 1856 Old Fashioned.
Garrard County Distilling Co. is renowned for producing top-quality Bourbons, rye whiskeys, and American single malts for various brands, thanks to its impressive dual 45-foot Vendome Copper and Brass column stills. They take particular pride in their All Nations cocktail, which showcases a selection of Double Gold Medal-winning whiskeys. Additionally, visitors have the opportunity to tour Carry Amelia Nation's former one-room stone cabin, which has been meticulously relocated and reconstructed, brick by brick, on the distillery grounds.
Opening in Spring 2025, Heaven’s Door Distillery is located on over 160 acres of rolling hills astride Six Mile Creek, the picturesque property was once owned by Squire Boone, the brother of legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone. Stay tuned for more details.
At Larrikin, they won't weave tales about Bourbon tracing back to the Pilgrims or talk about 51% corn. Their aim is straightforward: to create exceptional, unique whiskies that infuse a touch of Australian flair into Kentucky’s Bourbon tradition. Signature cocktail: Decade Old Fashioned.
In 1865, Ashland Distillery became the first federally registered distillery in Lexington, Kentucky, and was assigned the distinction of RD#1. Later renamed the William Tarr Distillery, it was a powerhouse producer in the state until prohibition. In 2020, Lexington entrepreneurs – awe-struck by the stories of these bourbon firsts – formed a new brand, RD1 Spirits, to keep the history alive and to help write the next chapter by specializing in wood-finished bourbon.
Today, RD1 has earned a spot on the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. All are invited to visit our current home in Lexington’s Distillery District and our new R&D distillery, under construction just a few miles away. Guests will be able to walk through RD1’s R&D distillery, and understand the role wood plays in creating Bourbon. Other opportunities include thieving from experimental barrels to bottle your own, and experimenting in our test lab.
SKD is thought to be the first legal Bourbon produced in Cumberland County since the end of prohibition in 2016. Their signature cocktail is the Southern Kentucky Manhattan. Southern Kentucky Distillery (SKD) presently manufactures 25 barrels daily of Kentucky Premium Bourbon, which is aged in three bonded warehouses. (An expansion is underway to double this production.)
Located in downtown Covington, KY at the intersection of Tobacco and Electric Alley, Wenzel is a resurrection of Kentucky’s rich bourbon history, and the inaugural Proprietors’ Blend is no exception. Every brick and barrel at Covington’s historic Wenzel Building is a revival of whiskey rectifying history. Come thief from the finest barrels around and make history with your own one-of-a-kind blend.
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